In the final episode of this series, Steve gives faint stars the side-eye, Helen sings a relatively short song about relativity and Matt gives a standing ovation to the desktop calculator that rerouted a space probe. Up, up and away!- Steve's bit (01:54)- Helen's bit (16:13)- Matt's bit (36:07)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve, Helen and Matt introduce the final installment of their live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With sets from astrophysicist and emo kid Jen Gupta, NATO alphabet innovator (in-NATO-vator) Ted Hill, stand-up medic Matt Hutchinson and Rock ‘n’ Roll IT consultants Foxdog Studios. Also contains extra details from Steve talking about tastebuds, and Helen singing about radioactive bananas:- Steve's bit (01:29)- Jen's bit (12:08)- Ted's bit (21:32)- Foxdog Studio's bit (27:26)- Matt H's bit (31:14)- Helen's bit (38:43)We'd like to add a special thanks to everyone who made these live shows possible! Our co-producer Hana Ayoob; production assistant Nicole Jacobus; sound recordist Robert Wells; Chris, Lou, Ellen, Joan, Frank and all the team at Bloomsbury Theatre; and our series producer and editor for these episodes, Lyndsay Fenner. Plus every fantastic performer, and all the brilliant audience who turned up on both nights to holler, cheer and laugh. High fives to all of you!SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matt exposes false advertising in the Jigsaw Puzzle industry, Steve matches up what we know about the immune system, and Helen writes a new tune that fits an old song. If you like detail, have a listen. You’ll fit right in: - Matt's bit (01:28)- Steve's bit (19:23)- Helen's bit (32:56)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Harlekintiger on twitter has recommended this video by Howard Ho about "We Don't Talk About Bruno" for another analysis of how it works and why it's so catchy. We didn't have time to go into as much detail as we would have liked, and this episode was already the longest of this series. Enjoy!This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt, Helen and Steve introduce more favourite moments from their recent live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With comedian Rachel Wheeley talking about the Greenwich Time Signal, biochemical engineer Michael Sulu on the potentially fatal difference between tubes and pipes, and zoologist Hana Ayoob sharing the Honey Badger love. Plus Matt on fast food, bad maths and McCombinations, and Helen with a song about losing love at the circus:- Matt's bit (1:27)- Rachel's bit (15:09)- Michael's bit (24:02)- Hana's bit (34:45)- Helen's bit (44:00)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- The original version of this episode contained a naughty word that wasn't beeped out - oops! We've fixed it now. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Steve explains why all the molecules in your body are right handed, Matt bigs up the strong law of small numbers and Helen grabs the mic to get on the ones and twos. Stand by to receive details!- Matt's bit (1:10)- Steve's bit (18:19)- Helen's bit (32:49)- "One" Song from "Hello Numbers" (40:25)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Every time Matt mentions the "Lagrange constant" please change it in your head to "Legendre constant" in your head. He was close, but not close enough! See the show notes to find out more about both Legendre and Lagrange.- The audio for this episode was updated on 1st June after some changes were made to the lyrics on the song recording. Everything else about the episode is the same. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen, Matt and Steve introduce the best bits of their recent live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With nerdy guest performers Dr Rohin Francis aka Medlife Crisis discussing why the human body isn’t really fit for purpose, and comedian Rosie Wilby on whether monogamy is truly dead. Plus the Nerds share their own unnecessary details on stage, with Matt throwing the rule book at Swiss Trains, Helen singing numbers in rhyming order, and Steve breaking into his own car:- Steve's bit (01:33)- Rohin's bit (14:40)- Matt's bit (23:45)- Rosie's bit (39:05)- Helen's bit (47:58)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Sorry to everyone who accidentally got an advert in the middle of Helen's song... we put the ad marker in the wrong place. Totally our fault! We won't do it again.This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a different kind of episode, our intrepid Detailers reveal three facts that they just could not believe the first time they heard them, but turned out to be true. The reproductive habits of barnacles, the unexpected mating call of the tawny owl and a freaky formula that draws a picture of itself all get the Unnecessary Detail treatment:- Helen's bit (01:12)- Matt's bit (16:08)- Steve's bit (34:12)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications: - A few weeks after we recorded this episode, New York Times published an extremely detailed and well-researched article debunking the "Birds Released In Central Park By Shakespeare Fan" story. Read it here, with thanks to listener Joshua Miller for sending over this link. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, logical thought and raw emotion meet as Matt finds two numbers that say “I Love You”, Helen sings mathematical equations that are guaranteed to make your brain light up and Steve embarrasses himself with the science of blushing:- Steve's bit (00:51)- Matt's bit (11:15)- Helen's bit (30:13)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Liran Bromberg emailed to clarify that the Choco Leibnitz biscuit is - in fact - named after the mathematician. Which surprised Helen, who thought that all of the biscuits and "biscuits" mentioned in her song were just naming coincidences. Thanks for the bonus fact, Liran!This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of.  Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Steve explains how computers talk to each other behind our backs, Helen co-writes a song with a popular internet search engine (if you can’t work out which one, Google it) and Matt brings an Oscar-winning algorithm to the table:- Steve's bit (00:56)- Matt's bit (16:18)- Helen's bit (36:24)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... Head to the episode page to see them. If you're looking for the API that Steve and Matt mentioned, try https://stevemould.com/api.Corrections and clarifications:- MikoKisai (and many others since he first noticed it...) has kindly pointed out that at various points, Steve gets his acronyms wrong: API is short for application programming interface, not application protocol interface. Cheers Miko! - Steve Howe also pointed out an error from Helen: A major and F# minor are the "same" key, not A major and C# minor as she said.This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of.  Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matt finds out how a runaway algorithm created the world’s most expensive book, Helen searches for the most singable fruit fly genes and Steve considers whether donating a kidney is easier than buying a house:- Steve's bit (00:46)- Helen's bit (11:05)- Matt's bit (37:30)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of.  Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matt finds his portrait in a Prime Number, Helen sings about the biggest Prime Number ever discovered (at the time of recording) and Steve discovers the hot new trick that wild honey bees are using to defend themselves:- Steve's bit (00:52)- Matt's bit (13:33)- Helen's bit (26:12)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far...This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Steve discovers the greedy cup siphon hiding inside your loo, Matt delves into Joseph Bazalgette’s calculations for London’s sewer system and Helen teaches everyone how to flush a toilet, through the medium of song:- Steve's bit (00:48)- Helen's bit (11:48)- Matt's bit (28:03)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far. But we have been sent some fantastic sewer tour suggestions, and a range of toilet flush photos from around the world, so we've updated the episode page with all of that. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: http://festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email [email protected]. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of.  Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.